MHA Monahans steps up for White Horse Challenge

Staff at chartered accountancy firm MHA Monahans have put on their trainers and stepped up to start off this year’s White Horse Challenge at full speed by covering 154.93 miles in one day – without even leaving their offices.

81 members of staff across the firm’s Swindon, Taunton and Trowbridge offices took to treadmills, provided by HomeGym UK, to officially mark the start of this year’s fundraising event.

Trowbridge’s 29 runners and walkers covered 68.86 miles between them in a day, with 34 from Swindon clocking up 54.6miles. The Taunton team of 18 people, walked or ran 52.07 miles.

Organised by MHA Monahans, Rygor and the Rocking Horse Nursery in Melksham, the White Horse Challenge will take place over the weekend of 7th and 8th July and poses walkers with challenges of between 7 and 52 miles.

All funds raised by the walkers go to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance and since the White Horse Challenge was started in 2006 over £147,300 has been raised.

There are four event challenges to choose from, with the Complete Challenge taking place over the two days and walkers will cover 52 miles, taking in seven of Wiltshire’s white horses and walking from Devizes to Marlborough on a 27 mile route on day one, and back on a 25 mile route on day two. There is an option to camp overnight, with tents set up by the organisers ready for a night’s rest and a cooked breakfast in the morning.

One day challenges are available as well and walkers can choose to join either the 27 mile route on Saturday or the 25 mile route on Sunday. Relay challenges are open for teams of four or more and a mini challenge will take place on the Sunday. The mini challenge covers seven miles and is an ideal option for families and novice walkers who want to take part and raise much-needed funds for this vital local charity.

Simon Tombs, managing partner at MHA Monahans, said, “MHA Monahans has been co-organisers of the White Horse Challenge since it began 12 years ago, and we are proud of the impact and benefit it has had to Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

“As a charity which relies solely on donations, it is important that we support this local lifeline. Every year we hear more amazing stories about their life-saving work and we’re humbled to be able to walk beside many of the people they’ve helped during the White Horse Challenge.

“To have had a total of 81 staff walk and run almost 155 miles to signal the start of this year’s event is testament to the great support the charity has locally, as well as the commitment MHA Monahans colleagues have to going the extra mile. Again this year we will be putting forward a number of teams and entrants for all the challenges and I would encourage all other businesses to do the same.”